Exchange City
Comments
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Thank you Olaf! Finally got my TE information today. Anxious to see what whippetmom thinks.
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Goldie, my rads side is very tender still, but it really hasn't felt great since before I had radiation. It's more sore than previously though, and I chalked it up to the nature of the rads beast.
As for drains, I only had them on my third attempt at implants, because my PS used the shaped Sientras, instead of the rounds I had previously. I kept the drains for 10 days before they finally slowed down enough to have them pulled.
Sandra, as usual you have the words of wisdom we need to remain calm through this ordeal. One month out, my left side looks really good, not at all like it looked when I peeked after my exchange. Rads side, well, let's just say it's not quite a happy camper.
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Andrea, I will have my exchange sometime in January and have a rads side also. What is going on with your rads side?
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Kari, the skin is very thin, tight, and feels like it could tear. It gets sore and painful by the end of the day, sometimes earlier, depending on my activity. These are the reasons I'm planning on a lat flap sometime next year. I wish I had done the surgery last month instead of trying an implant with the radiated skin again.
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I've read that women with rads are having fat grafting before starting reconstruction. Apparently that greatly improves the "quality" of the skin and has led to more successful outcome statistics with implants. I think Whippetmom has a thread on fat grafting. I'm sure there must be others.
Edited to add: I did a search on rads, fat grafting, and reconstruction and there are lots of posts about it. Here is one link: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/806748?page=9#top
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I had fat grafting after my rad side TE was removed. It made a huge difference in the integrity of my skin on the left.
Tomorrow I'm having an exchange on the rt with a lift and direct to implant on the left. I'll let you all know how it works out!
Babs
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I was supposed to have fat grafting at my last exchange, but my skin is so thin my PS decided not to do it. I can't remember all his reasons, but he was very concerned about the condition of my rads side.
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This thread fell off my favorites a month and 15 pages ago! I didn't notice. Sorry. I see Sandra carried the load!. LOL. I hope everyone is doing well.
Much love
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Goldie8469 I am seven month out and feel great. It was quite a while for me to feel better as I had a pulling and tightness sensation for a long time. Hand in there, I bet you will feel better in time.
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Andrea, that's not good about the rads side, you must be nervous about that skin. My PS wouldn't attempt a TE/implant without the LD flap and has said 3 times since the LD flap with TE that without the flap it just wouldn't have worked at all, my skin is way too thin and that radiated skin does not like to stretch. Boy...since all my fills, the rads skin is so ugly, it has red marks all over it and just doesn't look pretty, and the skin looked pretty darn good before the TE was placed. PS said radiated skin loved to recoil and shrink back and the marks on my skin, well that's what rads skin does. Big hugs to you, keep us posted.
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Kari, I wish I had done the LD flap instead of an implant. Like you, my rads side has red marks and isn't pretty. My first PS only did implant reconstruction, and thought I'd be okay. Looking back, while he was a very nice man, I don't think he had a lot of experience in breast reconstruction. My new PS does, but I foolishly thought I'd be okay with an implant again. As usual, hindsight is great, and I was wrong. I am nervous about that side, and after a shower either gently pat it dry, or dry it with my blowdryer on a low setting. How many women can say they blow dry their breast? Lol! My other side looks pretty good, so I hope an LD flap can make my rads side look and feel better.
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Smilinkar, don't feel bad about wanting to go bigger! Keep talking to your PS. Explain the size you want to be in relation to your TEs. Whippetmom will be a huge help for you in figuring out what size of implant you want.
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good luck Babs,,,,I will be in your pocket with you,,, hope it is a smooth ride,,,,,,, healing Hugz ,,,,, J
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Hi all of you fellow exchangers. I have been reading posts for the last month or so. Thank you all for the comments & suggestions. The information you share is very appreciated!
I had my exchange surgery and fat grafting on October 23rd. All went as I expected - especially because I had been reading your posts...two drains for 6 days, oral antibiotic for 1 week, compression on the fat grafted areas, etc. Much easier than the BMX. One thing I was not ready for was when I was released to go home I had a compression wrap with foam pads around my stomach and half way down my thighs. I was unable to get my jeans on over the wrap & foam. Soooo, I wound up leaving the hospital in two hospital gowns. Thank goodness most of my neighbors work during the day & I could sneak up to my apartment without being seen. :-)
I am now 3 1/2 weeks out. Have been back to work since the Wednesday after surgery. (Luckily I have a very understanding boss who didn't mind that I left early the first three days back to work) Have been feeling better every day but still not overusing my arms. I am looking forward to no more swelling!!!
Thank you again for sharing!!!
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NMCD, Thank you. I thought it would feel better. I didn't have rads. I guess I am on track but it seems to take longer than I expected. I should have fat grafting the first part of November. I have heard that it is a 2-3 day recovery. I hope so.
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Hi Goldie, I'm 6 weeks out too. I feel fine, but I do feel lots of odd tightness and I have a sore spot or two. It seems to be getting better, and I just got the go-ahead to go back to the gym for running and Pilates. I think that will help me feel more at home in my body. I have definite weird sensations when I move my arms just the right way for my pec muscles to flex around the implants. I hope that goes away or quits registering as weird.
I've felt that everything about this process takes longer than I expected! It's hard to be so patient!
I have obvious ripples and am thinking about fat grafting too. I'd love to have it as soon as November!
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on my way home from hospital. Had to be there .at 730f for a 9 am exchange Of course got a late start of 11 am. Finished at 545 and left hospital at 9 pm.Lots of pocket work!!!!
Felling pretty good all things considered. Yes. I'm on the squishy side now !!!!!!
Babs
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I'm amazed at how great you all seem to be right after the exchange procedure. I sure hope I get the same results. Question: what is the "pocket work" that you all talk about?
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Congrats on coming over to the Squishie side Babs!
Jonnie, pocket work is just a coverall word to describe any work a P'S does inside the "pocket" of breast skin. Stitching, adding alloderm, cutting it open more, anything they need to do.
Also for you new exchange people, remember the mantra "JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD!" Meaning, don't overdo because you feel good. You are healing inside and need to rest.
Much love.
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thanks. Moon. You always say things best ! I know I can play the Prima Donna role well!!!! Need to recup in a speedy and smart way!
Babs1
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I'm 2 weeks out from surgery #5 today. I feel clear-headed all of the time and feel recovered 98% of the time. Today I put on a rather firm zip front sports bra instead of the soft surgical bras I've been wearing. Man oh man, after wearing it all day, I am feeling achy, swollen, and pretty uncomfortable. I've downed some Tylenol for the first time in days. I thought maybe the sports bra was too tight and expected to see red marks when I took it off, but there were none. I know my PS wants me in a sports bra now, but I don't want to if it's going to feel like this. I feel a bit of civil disobedience coming on.
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ouch. Can you adjust the bra at all? I got one from woman within that has a panel on front with adjustable hooks to make it tighter or looser. I needed it when I was draining so much. Maybe a store has something you could use. Hugs Sandra.
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I didn't wear any bra last night (I'm such a rebel) and am still sore this morning, especially on my damaged left side. The PS said I should get a good sports bra, meant to decrease movement. Maybe it just holds the foobs and surrounding tissue in a different position (higher & firmer) than the surgical bra, which annoys the axillia on the left and has really pissed off the remaining mini-boob mud flap. (The other side is only a bit sore in the axilla. Its mud flap was sacrificed to the lipo gods six months ago.) Since there is no redness, it doesn't seem to be a tightness issue. Hmmm.
Speculation, speculation. Perhaps it's only good because it gives us something to do until the situation resolves itself I tried my usual solution to every problem - a cookie - but it failed to make it better so I'm going with plan B. If you need me the rest of the day, I'll be in my fort, reading.
On another note about bras, I bought a Genie camisole-style bra ($19.99) and a regular one ($9.99) at Walmart. You aren't allowed to try them on so I went by the package size chart. Love the cami, not so fond of the regular one which seems flimsy compared to the cami. Even though they are the same size, the cami style feels much better on and is easy to get on. The regular one kept twisting up and my husband had to help after he stopped pointing and laughing. (He threatened to take a picture next time.) It's not bad, just not as comfy as the cami-style. The Genie website has a special going on. You can get 6 camisole style bras in any color (there are lots) for $60. They even have free shipping.https://www.geniebra.com/cart.aspx?home
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Sandra, those are just what I've been looking for! Tell me about the sizing. I used to always be a 4-6, but am a solid 8 now. Would the medium fit well? I know when I buy the Bali bras, I'm supposed to be a medium, but the large feels more comfortable. I want to wear camis instead of my sports bras, but I've read reviews saying the Genie isn't long enough (I'm 5'4" so it might not be an issue), or rides up. Have you had that happen? Thanks!
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Moon, Sandra, Gindu......I can't remember all who wrote something that applied to me. My exchange was 4 days ago. I did not have drains but do have 5 days of Keflex. I was surprised since Keflex is a strong antibiotic. Yesterday I was able to take a shower and got the first look at the new foobs. The size looks OK. They look very tight. I didn't really touch them since they are very tender. I know I had pocket work done medially but, the sides are sore too. Maybe he closed it up a little. The pain is so much less than BMX. But, I must remember to take it easy. No lifting, stretching, pushing or pulling right now. I wonder what sort of bra I will need after next week. This surgical vest compresses. I also need to ask PS about underwires. Thanks for saying they will look different as time goes on. I appreciate all the advice
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dianems, I had my exchange on Oct. 3. At my first post-op (4 days later) my PS told me she wanted me to wear a supportive, non-underwire bra for a month. I can take it off to sleep. I was wearing a Bali 3488 when I saw her and she told me that was perfect. We talked about underwire bras when I saw her on Thursday to get my sutures out. She says underwire is fine as long as it is properly fitted and does not put any pressure on the implant.
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Is there anyone out there who had a BMX and did NOT have to have chemo rads? I had my BMX and exchange both in about 3 months time. Recently went back work, and am shocked at how tired and weak I feel all the time. I had a month off after exchange before I had to go back to work, but still feel whooped every day.
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WTG Babs!!!!!! Welcome to the squishy side,,,, get yourself some rest as you probably are feeling effects of anesthia still,,,, take it easy,,,,, healing hugz,,,,,, J
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for me no chemo or rads. Off six weeks after bmx. Six weeks after final fill was the exchange. Off about two weeks. Definitely tired a lot but was ok. Have to remember to take it easy for a long time.
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I am 12 days post op with my revision , my PS wants me to wear underwire sports bra to hold the implant high while it is scarring, and healing,,, I cant find one that doesn't hurt!!! I bought one from VS and it irritates the hell out of my lifted side!!! I went bra shopping yesterday to try the Bali one everyone is talking about,,, needless to say, they had every bra except those styles!!! But I tried on about 7 different ones with no luck,not enough support,,,, I hurt myself putting one on,,,,, not to bad but I knew at that point I was done trying any more on,,, I am wearing my Genie bra and just pinned up the strap on the Foob side so it holds it higher,,,,,I have those in almost every color they make,,lol,,, lifesaving,,,, healing hugz to all,,,,,,J
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